Severance
Chapter 010
Good At Talking

I must've dozed off in the car ride because when I awoke, it was to the car door opening on my side. Elizabeth glanced in and raised a brow, "We're here sleepy head." She spoke.

"Where?" I muttered, closing my eyes again, the heat felt nice and made me feel sleepy.

"At your house, now come on out so we can feed Jamie." She spoke.

I yawned out and sluggishly pulled myself out of the car with one hand on my purse.

"Can you get my things then?" I more ordered than asked as I walked past her.

"You want me to get your things? Also, why weren't you wearing a seat belt?!" She began.

"Well you weren't planning on crashing now we're you?" I hissed, now making my way towards the front door of my house. As I did so, I could see the garage was open, I glanced over only slightly but I could see the back end of my favourite navy blue car - Arthur's car. Which meant, Arthur was home!

It woke me up slightly as I drew the house key from my bag and put it in the lock.

Opening the door, the elegant scent of lingering depression and anger issues hit me hard.

"You're home!" I smiled happily.

"You're home also!" He replied raising his hands and waving them in short strokes with a smile.

"How was your trip this time?" I asked.

"Oh it was dandy," he began, "Francis was sick and had to go home early!" He explained, "And besides that, I got to leave right when I was done with my presentation so I basically came home two days earlier than I was supposed to, which I am thankful for."

"You're thankful? Woah! This trip has changed you!" I said in a joking manner.

"It has, I seem to think you're more attractive now!" He joked back.

"I could say the same... but, then I'd be a liar." I grinned.

His eyes were locked on mine and mine on his as our smiles joined and our lips touched.

"Ah-Ah-AH! There's a child here!" I heard Elizabeth shout as she entered.

Arthur and I glanced back at the two, Elizabeth was carrying all my bags and roughly dropped them at the entrance  while Jamie slowly made her way inside.

"Say 'hi' Jamie, the girly one over there is obviously the lovely Arthur Kinkland-ugm- I mean, Kirkland and the manlier looking one of the two is who you just met, ______!" Elizabeth hardcore roasted.

Jamie just slightly laughed, but she seemed slightly intrigued now.

"Wow. Well. What a polite introduction. But yes, my name is Arthur, it's nice to meet you Jamie." He spoke, walking foreword to shake her hand.

She stiffly and quickly stuck her hand out and shook his hand but it was quick, short, and she immediately drew her hand back and slightly rubbed it off on her pants leg.

"Soft hand." Arthur commented lamely before turning towards Elizabeth, "Right, so I didn't realise you were pregnant this entire time." He began, "I mean I saw you getting larger but I assumed that had something to do with the cold weather."

"That's so funny my right hand burns with the desire to hit you with something." Elizabeth replied.

"This violence is uncalled for, miss, it was but a joke!" Arthur snickered as he turned back to head to the kitchen, "I've ordered a sandwich for myself at Cubway, but there is food here as well if you'd like to eat something." He spoke to us.

"I'm.." I thought for a moment, was I really hungry or was I just really bored again? "I'm fine." I replied lamely.

"I think I'm good also, what about you, Jamie?" Elizabeth asked.

"I'm fine." Jamie quietly mumbled under her breath.

"Are you sure?" Arthur asked.

She only nodded quickly but in short movements as if to get it over with. It. Was. Awkward.

"Soo..." I popped in, breaking the silence in the room, "Arthur, how long are you going to be home this go about?" I asked.

"Not long actually-" he said, causing me to sadden a bit, but he continued, "Perhaps another hour or two before I have to head out to take this lovely woman out to dinner in the city."

"Well I hope you two have a great time.." I said with a spoon of salt in the tone.

"Idiot. It's you." Elizabeth quickly spat.

"Oh?!" I cheered, "I'm the lovely woman??" I exclaimed turning towards the messy blonde.

He nodded with a smile, "I'll start the car up in another hour so we can head out.

"Okay, I'll go upstairs to get ready then!" I exclaimed.

"_________!" Elizabeth called out after me.

"Yeah?" I asked.

"Your stuff." She motioned down at all my shopping bags by her feet.

"Oh... right, we'll just carry them up with me, come on!" I exclaimed just as eagerly as I skipped towards the staircase.

Elizabeth sighed out as she hopelessly glanced down at the many shopping bags, "I love my life. I love my life." She repeated a few times under her breath.

---

"So Jamie, what's school like?" Elizabeth asked as I did my makeup in front of the mirror.

"Oh, it's okay. I'm graduating soon." Jamie commented quietly.

"Are you? How exciting!" She cheered, "Do you know what you're going to do after?"

"Oh, yes. I'm - uh - I'm going to college and I'm going to become an English or history teacher." She replied.

"That's interesting, so then you must love school right?" Liz continued on.

"N.. Not really, but I love people and seeing people happy." Jamie replied innocently enough.

"I dunno, from what I remember when I went back to get a modern education, there are a lot of places where people are happy. School is not one of them." I commented.

Jamie sat quietly as her eyes were unsure what to look at. I ignored and focused in on my eyeliner. It will be perfect.

Suddenly, Elizabeth's phone began ringing with her loud ass default ringtone. My hand shook and my eyeliner went off and on my eyelid instead of the neat line I was aiming for.

"Dammit." I muttered under my breath.

"Sorry-" She spoke as she answered the call, "Hello? - ah yes, this is she.. What? No, I didn't even know about this!" Her tone became blunt and slightly agitated, "What do you mean?" She let out a quick huff, "Then get me a damn plane and I'll go there myself!" She exclaimed before hanging up.

I stopped progress on my eyeliner and turned towards her as she stood up, "In sorry for my language, I seek to be in a bit of a predicament." She spoke.

"What happened?" I asked.

"Some idiot face let-" she stopped herself suddenly, "Wait- I'm not sure if I'm able to tell you just yet.. look, I'll tell you when I get back from Austria."

"Austria?" I asked, "What about your kid?"

I watched as her face went pale for a split second, "oh no."

I couldn't even help myself, I just burst out laughing, "You just picked her up today! How could you forget?" I asked.

"Accidentally!" She exclaimed back, "Jamie, do you happen to know if the 'sister' badge can be temporarily transferred?" Elizabeth asked.

Jamie shrugged back, "Maybe?" She quietly added.

"Hm. Okay, well, how about this? I swear on my life I will make this up to you when I get back, it'll only be a week that I'm gone, in the meantime, would you be okay staying with _______?" She asked.

"What?" I asked, turning my head right at her.

"Oh come on, I do so much for you, please?" She begged.

"No! I'm not good with people, much less kids." I replied sternly.

"Please?!" She asked again.

"It's okay.. you don't have to." Jamie spoke up a bit, "It's fine, really, just go do what you have to." She said, turning towards Elizabeth.

"God, I want to, but I don't want to leave you alone, it wouldn't be right. _______ and Arthur will look after you and once I get back, we will do anything you want or can even think of! Okay? I promise it'll be amazing!" She embellished.

This time Elizabeth turned towards me whilst giving me a death glare, "Isn't that right, ________?" She asked.

"Oh don't pull that with me-" I began.

Her stare seemed to intensify, "Isn't that right, _______?" She emphasized more.

"Fuck! Fine! Yeah, sure whatever!" I hissed.

She gave me a quick smile before turning back towards Jamie, "Okay, so why don't we go to my place, I'll pack while I help you with some homework then I'll take you home and tomorrow ________ will pick you up!"

"O-Oh.. Okay." Jamie said, glancing downwards.

"Great, so this all works out then!" She smiled lamely, "Come on, Jamie, we should get going now then." She spoke, leading her towards my door, "________, even though I'm mostly forcing you, thank you for coming through for me."

I gave a slow nod as I watched her exit. I then turned back towards my mirror and glanced down upon myself. Nothing quite like babysitting a kid I don't even know when I'm supposed to be having fun with Arthur since he's not around a lot of the time. I kind of just adjusted to being strong and independent since it's not easy... More on that in Pledge... If that ever comes out, that is.

I smiled still, I may suddenly have new plans for tomorrow, but as for tonight, I have a date that I will savor.